This week  - after receiving numerous reader requests to recognize him - the Staff Spotlight shines on Rex Gutierrez, staffer to my boss (and Red County/San Bernardino contributor) Bill Postmus, San Bernardino County's Assessor. Gutierrez is a dedicated public servant who truly understands community spirit, teamwork, and cares for the needs of his constituents.

In addition to being a tremendous asset to the County Assessor's office, Rex Gutierrez is also a valued treasure in this community: his fellow residents in the growing city of Rancho Cucamonga have elected him four times to their city council, the most recent being just last November. Gutierrez has made safegaurding the public purse and attracting jobs among his top priorities - those reasons are why Rancho Cucamonga under his leadership is often ranked by national publications as one of the best communities to live in the United States.

Here is a quick rendition of Rex's biography:

Councilmember Rex Gutierrez is a sixteen-year resident of Rancho Cucamonga. He moved here from Los Angeles with his wife Janet. They met and married in 1984, after graduating from the University of Southern California. Rex and Janet have three children Alison, Anna, and Rex Elias, who attend public schools in Rancho Cucamonga. Rex graduated with honors from the University of Southern California in 1983. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. He is currently working on a Master's Degree in Education at California State University, San Bernardino.

Rex was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. His father was an Air Force Technical Sergeant, thus, Rex spent his formative years near many Air Force bases. He has lived in many diverse cities including: Biloxi, Mississippi; Omaha, Nebraska; Rome, New York; Amarillo, Texas; and, after his father's retirement-Eureka, California and Delano, California. He graduated from Delano High School in 1977. In 1979, he moved to Barcelona, Spain to serve his church as a missionary for two years. Rex currently teaches government and economics to high school seniors. Before establishing the Grapevine Press, he was a stockbroker with Paine Webber Group for nine years. He has a wide background in government, public policy, and finance.

Rex was elected to the Rancho Cucamonga City Council in 1992, and re-elected in 1996. He left the Council in 1998 to operate the Grapevine Press, a local publication. He was again elected to the City Council in November 2002 and 2006.

I have worked with Rex Gutierrez for some time now, and I find him to be thoughtful, wise, and in possession of a rare intellect in which he always places first the interest of the taxpayer. His approach to common sense governing - while maintaining an emphasis on the importance of family - demonstrate how grounded and focused Rex Gutierrez is on what really matters. I am honored to call him a colleague; I am proud to call him my friend.

Congratulations Rex Gutierrez:  You are our Staffer of the Week.